The agreement provides a wage increase of almost 10 percent over the two years covered by the contract and a medical benefit contribution increase totaling almost 12 percent over that same time period.

The contract agreement and subsequent signing by all parties will avert a possible strike by GCT bus operators. The contract is retroactive to Nov. 1, 2008, which is when the previous contract expired.

GCT is a joint powers authority providing local bus service to Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, Ojai and the unincorporated areas of Western Ventura County. It transports more than 11,500 passengers each weekday, with 3.5 million trips in 2007-2008.

The buses will be deployed in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs of Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester, supporting four million people living in and around southeastern Pennsylvania.

This year’s conference at Indianapolis’ Indiana Convention Center Sept. 11 to 13 with an expanded program that begins Monday afternoon with a training session each from Cummins and Allison Transmission officials.